Archives for November 2015

Communities in Brown County will get money back from a sales tax that was collected to help renovate Lambeau Field.

Governor Scott Walker on Monday signed a bill at the stadium in Green Bay, which sets up a formula for handing out additional revenues that were collected because businesses kept collecting the tax after it ended in the spring, bringing in an extra $17.6 million beyond what was needed for the 2003 renovations at Lambeau.

Under the bill, about $5.5 million will go to the city of Green Bay, while $4.4 million will go to future work at the Brown County Arena complex. The remaining money will go to other municipalities in the county.

Walker said communities will be able to use the money for property tax relief to pay off debt or for economic development initiatives.

A state lawmaker hopes to keep his former colleagues from jumping right into jobs as lobbyists when they leave the Legislature.

Several lawmakers have gone on to jobs at lobbying firms after their terms end, and state Representative Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire) says it’s troubling when it happens shortly after they leave office. “As legislators, I see our jobs should be to focus on creating jobs for others…and not for ourselves,” he argues.

The Eau Claire Democrat is proposing a bill that would ban individuals from registering as a lobbyist for the first year after they leave office. “This bill will ensure that those who are elected to the Legislature to serve their constituents will do so without the goal of ‘cashing in’ for a high-paying special interest job later,” Wachs says. “Other states have similar ‘cooling off’ periods, and it’s time that Wisconsin takes this important step.”

Wachs sponsored a similar bill last session that would have put a two year prohibition in place, but it failed to receive a public hearing. He talked with majority Republicans this time around and decided to reduce the limit to a single year, which has resulted in bipartisan support. “The way I see it, one year is better than zero years,” Wachs says.

He remains optimistic the bill will receive a hearing during the spring legislative session.

Recent polling indicates there may be some public support for a bill to help reduce student debt in Wisconsin. The latest Marquette Law School Poll found 61 percent support for legislation that would allow holders of student loans to refinance at lower rates. The “Higher Ed, Lower Debt” bill is from state Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).

“They should be able to refinance at a lower rate. Eight, nine, ten percent is not acceptable,” said Hansen. “The key to me is refinancing. And I hope that these numbers seep in to the Republicans’ heads, and they realize just how important this issue is, and how much support there is for this higher ed, lower debt bill.”

The bill has received a hearing, but a committee vote has not yet been scheduled, though Hansen and others have sent a letter requesting that.

The death of an unidentified 50-year-old man in Marathon County has been confirmed as the state’s third firearm-related death during the nine day gun deer hunt. Jon King, Hunter Education Coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said the man was found at the base of a tree with a gunshot wound to the chest. His rifle was hanging from the tree stand by a cord, and it appears the weapon discharged, striking him. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Department said investigators were called Sunday night at about 9:15 to a wooded area near Spencer in the town of Brighton. The hunter’s name and address have not yet been released.

The two other hunting season deaths both occurred during the opening weekend. On Sunday, November 22, a 39-year-old Alaska man was shot in the armpit while handing a rifle to a woman in a tree stand. The rifle was loaded at the time, and the woman accidentally pulled the trigger. The second death was caused when a stray bullet struck and killed 56-year-old Gregory Welk of Wild Rose. Welk was able to call 911 and his wife for help. He died at a Neenah hospital a short time later. That shooting remains under investigation.

A shooting death in central Wisconsin is being investigated as a possible hunting-related incident. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Department said investigators were called Sunday night at about 9:15 to a wooded area near Spencer in the town of Brighton.

The victim was an unidentified 50-year-old man. Officials have not released any additional information at this time.

If it is related to the recently ended deer hunt, it would be the third shooting-related death during this year’s nine day gun season.

The first of the deaths was caused the Sunday of opening weekend when a 39-year-old Alaska man was shot in the armpit while handing a rifle to a woman in a tree stand. The rifle was loaded at the time, and the woman accidentally pulled the trigger.

The second death was caused when a stray bullet struck and killed 56-year-old Gregory Welk of Wild Rose. Welk was able to call 911 and his wife for help. He died at a Neenah hospital a short time later. That shooting remains under investigation.

State Senator Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac made the announcement Monday morning. In a statement, he said the decision is based on a desire to return to the private sector. “I had spent 26 years of my career in manufacturing management. I haven’t lost my love for manufacturing and will be returning to the private sector,” Gudex said.

Gudex was elected to the Senate in November of 2012. He currently serves as President Pro-Tempore of the chamber and chairs the Senate Economic Development and Commerce Committee. He is also a board member of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and a member of The Wisconsin Small Business Advisory Center Network Advisory Board.

Wisconsin and Marquette are both in the 64-team NCAA women’s tournament volleyball field, which was announced on Sunday night.

The Badgers were given the number-six overall seed and they’ll host a four-team sub-regional at the UW-Field House on Thursday night. Wisconsin will face Oregon. The winner faces either Iowa State or Miami of Florida on Friday night.

The Badgers are 24-6 on the season and 37-18 in 18 NCAA tournament appearances.

Marquette has earned its fifth straight NCAA berth. The Golden Eagles will take on Northern Iowa Friday night in the Minneapolis sub-regional. The winner will play either Minnesota or Jackson State on Saturday.

Wide receiver Jared Abbrederis returned to the practice field on Sunday. He’s back after missing a pair of games with rib and chest injuries suffered in the Green Bay Packers loss to the Detroit Lions on November 15.

Abbrederis took part in a short workout on Sunday as the Packers get ready to face the Lions in Detroit on Thursday night.

Abbrederis made four catches for 57 yards in the 18-16 loss to the Lions. He left the game after a 32-yard catch that was followed by a big hit from Lions safety Glover Quin.

Abbrederis told reporters on Sunday that there is no timetable for his return. He said some pain and discomfort is still present and didn’t offer any kind of timetable for his return.

Freshman guard Haanif Cheatham scored 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting to lead the Marquette Golden Eagles to a 80-61 win over Jackson State on Sunday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Cheatham hit all four of his three-point attempts and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line.

Cheatham improved to 22 of 36 from the field (61.1%) for the season. He improved to 7-of-11 from three-point distance.

Henry Ellenson had 15 points and 1o rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Luke Fischer added 11 points and a career-high six blocked shots as Marquette held Jackson State to 36.2% shooting from the field.

After a 1-2 start to the season, Marquette has won three straight to improve to 4-2.